Grapple



I Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

J. C. GINTER.

GRAP-PLE.

APPLlCATl0N.FlLED NOV. 12. 1920.

STATES JAMES C. GINTER, OF BRECKENRIDGE, TEXAS.

GRAPJPLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Application filed November 12, 1920. Serial No. 423,603.

T 0 all whom it may con cern Be it known that I, JAMES C. GINTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Breckenridge, in the county of Stephens and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grapples especially adapted for use in regaining tools.

Briefly stated, this invention aims to provide an improved grapple which may be employed for regaining tools or the like which may be submerged and therefore concealed from view.

A principal aim of the invention is to provide a grapple having a tool receiving socket provided with means for gripping the tool and also with novel means for directing the tool into the socket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grapple or tool of the class described which is reliable, efficient and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved tool,

Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary longitu- -dinal sectional View through the same,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View on line 55 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a pawl or gripping aw embodying the invention.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the improved tool or grapple which comprises a tubular body 11 having its forward end open and its rear end closed and provided with a head 12.

Briefly stated, the tubular body 11 is adapted to receive a tool or the like which may be submerged in the water and which is more or lessv inaccessible. To provide a means whereby the tool or a portion of the same may be directed into the tubular body 11,

taken I have formed atransversely curved guide 14 on the forward end of the tubular body. With reference to Fig. 2, it will be'observed that the guide 14 is a continuation of the tubular body 11 and has its forward end beveled as indicated at 16, so that the tool upon being engaged by the guide will be directed inwardly.

A coupling 18 is provided at its forward portion with an interiorly screw-threaded flange 20 which is threaded onto the head 12 of the tubular body 11. The coupling 18 is provided with a threadedshank 22 by means of which the same may be connected to a suitable support in the form of a handle or the like. 1

The coupling 18 is also formed with a socket 24 which opens out through its forward end and receives a retraotile coiled spring 26, which acts to urge a plunger 28 forwardly. The plunger 28 which is slidable through the head 12 is provided at its rear end with an enlarged portion or'disk 30 slidable within the socket 24 and engaged by the adjacent end of the coiled spring 26, so that the coiled spring will be caused to constantly urge the plunger to its forward position.

The forward portion of the plunger 28 is split longitudinally so as to provide a pair of spaced parallel arms 32 which are are ranged within the tubular member 11. More specifically, the arms 32 are slidable within longitudinally extending grooves 34 formed in the opposed sides of the tubular body.

-T-he grooves 34 are, of course, of a greater length than the arms 32 so that the arms may partake of a movement longitudinally of the body.

The numerals 36 designate a pair of opposed jaws or pawls which are associated with the forward ends of the arms 32 and which are slidable obliquely of the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. Grooves 38 are formed in the opposed sides of the tubular member at the forward ends of the grooves 34 and slidably receive the jaws 36.

In the use of the improved device, the same is submerged in the water and moved around in an effort to engage the transversely curved guide 14 with the tool to be removed. Upon locatingthe tool, the device is moved so that the tool is caused to move along the guide 14 and into the tubular member 11 whereupon it will engage the curved rear end portions of the arms 32 and thereby retract the same and consequently the jaws 36. In thus retracting the jaws 36,

the same are moved into the deeper portions of the grooves 38 so-that the teeth formed on the faces of the jaws are caused to lie approximately fiush with the inner wall of the tubular body. The body of the tool is now retracted slightly so as to disengage the rear portions of the arms 32'. This permits the spring 26 to move the arms 32 and conse-' quently the jaws 36 forwardly with the result that the jaws will be moved into gripping engagement with the sides of the tool.

he supporting member for the apparatus may now be withdrawn 'so that the tool locked within the tubular body 11 will be also withdrawn. Of course when the apparatus is submerged, a quantity of water is caused to enter the tubular body so I have provided a Water outlet opening 40 in the rear portion of the body whereby the water and mud may be freely discharged.

The arms -,32 may vary in number and each includes a, pair of sections having threaded engagement with each other. The sections of the arms may, however, be otherwise connected. Openings 42 are formed in the socket member and are adapted to afford access. to the arms 32 for the purpose of connectingthe sections of the same.

I claim 1. A device of'the class described, comprising a body having a socket opening out through its forward end, the side wallsof said socket being provided with grooves extending obliquely with relation to the longitudinal axis of the' body, and terminating short of the forward end of the body,jaws

slidable within said grooves and provided with teeth, the rear end portion of said body being provided with a head having a longitudinally extending opening, a longitudinally slidable plunger within said opening, and having its forward portion split longitudinally thereby forming a pair of spaced I parallel arms arranged on opposite sides of said socket and having connection with said jaws, the rear end portions of said arms being extended across the rear portion of said socket 110 form a tool contacting element, a tubular attaching member connected to said head and provided with a socket, and a compression coil spring arranged within ,said second named socket and engaging the rear end of'said plunger for normally advancing the same, the side walls of said first named socket bein'g'provided with grooves receiying said arms and communicating with said first named grooves.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a body having a socket opening out arms being extended across the rear portion.

of said socket to form a tool contacting element, a tubular attaching member connected to said head and provlded with a socket, and a compression coil spring arranged within said second named socket and engaging the rear end ofsaid plunger for normally advancing the same, the side walls of said first named socket being provided with grooves'receiving said arms and communicating with said first named grooves, the forward portion of said body being provided with a continuation constituting a guide. I g 4 JAMES C. GINTER. 

